No. 361,
October 2003
Editor: Gregory Vercellotti, M.D., verce001@umn.edu
Editorial Assistant: Allison Campbell, aac@umn.edu
LCME retreat encouraging
More
than 80 faculty members from the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses applied their
knowledge and energy to the LCME retreat that took place Sept. 20 on the Twin
Cities campus. Thanks to everyone who contributed and participated. The retreat
is one step on the way to the LCME accreditation visit that begins March 28,
2004. As an opportunity to meet face-to-face and learn details about each
campus's situation, many felt the retreat was a success. Self-study committee
heads presented synopses of their reports, as did students of student surveys.
These surveys found high satisfaction among students on both campuses of the
Medical School. Twin Cities students Chloe Zera and Alen Sabati reported that
students surveyed cited top strengths---faculty teaching, camaraderie among
students, and diverse clerkship settings and patients. Primary concerns were
tuition and other expenses leading to debt, scheduling, and facilities. Duluth
student Paul Tonkin reported that students surveyed held up the charisma of the
staff and faculty as a strength and named their largest concern, the debt load.
In response to student financial issues, Dean Deborah Powell, M.D., announced
that the Minnesota Medical Foundation is designing a new scholarship program
for Minnesota students. The day continued with small-group meetings and a final
gathering together for additional insights and summing up. Material from the
retreat becomes part of the process of building and distilling our Medical
School's report to the LCME site visitors. By early November, we expect to have
a draft of the executive summary of that report to circulate to faculty for
comment.
White Coat Ceremonies Oct. 4 and Oct.
11
Please
join us in celebrating what it means to be a physician with the Class of 2007,
their families, and friends. On Oct. 4 on the Twin Cities campus, the White
Coat Ceremony begins at 1 p.m. in Northrop Auditorium. Speaking to the Class of
2007 on what it means to be a professional is Fred Lyon, M.D., who graduated
from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1957. John Song, M.D., a
Medical School faculty member and member of the Center for Bioethics, will
speak on the topic of "Altruism and Professionalism." This class also welcomes
author and talk show host Barbara Carlson who will talk about the patient and
physician relationship. On Oct. 11 on the Duluth campus, the White Coat
Ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom. Alum Robert Rutka, M.D., will
address the gathering, as will Chancellor Kathryn Martin, Ed.D., Dean Richard
Ziegler, Ph.D., Lillian Repesh, Ph.D., Raymond Christensen, M.D., Gregory
Vercellotti, M.D., and others.
Faculty development workshops
The
full line-up of faculty development programs are now posted on the Office of
Medical Education Web site at http://www.meded.umn.edu . Click on Faculty
Workshops for a complete listing and to register. As in prior years, the
Educational Development and Research office offers monthly workshops in the
"Best Practices in Medical Teaching" series, quarterly workshops in the "Help!
There's a Medical Student in My Office" series, and various other workshops and
short courses on popular topics, such as "Advanced Clinical Teaching," and
"Getting Recognition for your Teaching: Creating a Portfolio." Check it out!
Rural Physician Associate Program
begins its 33rd year
On
Oct. 13, 32 students in the Rural Physician Associate Program begin nine-month
experiences working with their preceptors and other health professionals in
communities across Minnesota, from Winona to Ortonville to Ely. These are
third-year students, 10 from the Twin Cities campus and 22 from Duluth, who
have elected to learn in-depth about how physicians practice in rural
Minnesota. Please join me in wishing them success.
Learn about joining RPAP next year
Year
two medical students can learn about the Rural Physician Associate Program
during lunchtime sessions with RPAP alumni and director Walter Swentko, M.D.,
M.S. On the Duluth campus, the RPAP information session takes place at noon on
Oct. 14, in Med 130. On the Twin Cities campus, the RPAP information session
takes place 12:20-1:15 p.m. Oct. 16 in Moos Tower 2-650. December is the
deadline for applications for next year's program.
Computerized testing---an opportunity
In
its second year of use in Duluth, a computer-based testing format that has been
well-received by students and faculty will be expanded to all multiple-choice
exams. The technology, generously supported by a local medical group, allows questions
to include X-rays, MRIs, color photos of specimens, digitized microscope
slides, animations, and even video clips. Students also receive immediate
feedback on the screen, as soon as they complete the examinations. Duluth uses
the Academic Health Center portal and WebCT to administer the exams and would
welcome partnerships with other University of Minnesota faculty who are
interested in Web-based computer-assisted testing. For more information,
contact Rick Hoffman, rhoffman@d.umn.edu.
TV doctoring in the Twin Cities
Women's
health is the topic when "Health Talk & You" returns to broadcast
television for a repeat season starting Oct. 12, 7 p.m., on Channel 17. Prized
as a service to the wider community, "Health Talk & You" fell to budget
cuts. Still, Greg Vercellotti, M.D., and other Medical School faculty members
discuss health issues the second and fourth Thursdays of the month on KARE-TV's
"Ask A Doctor" feature from 10 to 11 a.m. In addition, new columns on health
topics are distributed to 50 newspapers around the state and added twice a
month to the Academic Health Center's Web site; type in
www.healthtalkandyou.com.
Duluth doctors on TV
On
Oct. 2, "Doctors on Call" begins its 22nd season on WDSE-TV in
Duluth with a discussion of heart attacks and heart failure. The half-hour
call-in medical information show is coordinated by the Department of Family
Medicine in Duluth and enhances awareness of primary care, specialty care, and
rural health issues. Other topics to be covered during the 18-show season
include arthritis, indigestion, cancer, diabetes, and more.
Taking it to the Lakewalk
Despite
cool, damp weather, a team from the Duluth campus of the Medical School turned
out for the 2003 Heart Walk on the Lakewalk on Saturday, Sept. 27. Joining the
walk to fight heart disease and stroke, the team of Rick Ziegler, George
Trachte, Les Drewes, Kent Froberg, Steve Johnston, Leslie Peterson, and Lori
Isaacson helped boost University of Minnesota-Duluth's fundraising to more than
$20,000, double last year's contribution.
Assistant Dean for Homeless Education
to visit Twin Cities
Pedro
Jose Greer, M.D., speaks on caring for "The Least of These" at noon, Oct. 16,
at the Westminster Town Hall Forum. The assistant dean for homeless education
at the University of Miami Medical School, Dr. Greer tells his students that
livers, lungs, and colons do not walk into a medical building looking for
treatment; they come attached to people. He will discuss the ethical charge of
caring for those who live among us but whom most choose not to see. What are
the ramifications---to individuals and to society---of ignoring the health care
needs of the poor? If the poor will always be among us, what can we do to
sustain and comfort them, or to better their lot? The forum takes place at
Westminster Presbyterian Church, at Nicollet Mall and 12th Street in
downtown Minneapolis. Shuttle buses will run from Mayo Circle to Westminster
starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. For more information about the shuttle
bus, contact Brian Shekleton, 5-8608, or shek00006@umn.edu.
A list serve to discuss USMLE Step 2
The
National Board of Medical Examiners has started an Internet list serve to
facilitate discussion and respond to inquiries about the new clinical skills
exam administered within the United States Medical Licensing Examination
(USMLE). The "USMLE-Clinical-Skills" listserv is open to anyone but
is intended for U.S. medical students and others seeking information about the
clinical skills exam. A clinical skills component of the USMLE Step 2 will be
introduced in mid-2004. For information, go to http://www.nbme.org/listserv.asp